Miner s-lamp wick



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC M. ANTON, OF MONONGAHELA CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

MlNERS-LAMP WICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,733, dated July 8, 1890.

Application filed February 20, 1890. Serial No, 341,154. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERIO M. ANTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monongahela City, in the county of \Vashington and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Miners- Lamp Vicks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, formingapart of this specification.

This invention relates to wicks, and has special reference to that kind which is used in miners lamps which burn lard-oil; and it has for its object to provide a wick which will convey the oilfreely and effectivelyunder all conditions, which may be cheaply manufactured, and which will overcome certain objections to which wicks now in general use are subject.

Heretofore wicks have been formed of a series of strands plaited, woven, or twisted to gether, thereby causing the wick to have a definite size, whichwill fit a wick-tube having a corresponding size, but will be either too tight or too loose for a wick-tube of any other size.-

Thus different sizes of wicks must be used for wick-tubes of difierent sizes. Therefore one object of this invention is to provide a wick which is so constructed as to fit any ordinarysized wick-tube snugly without being tight, thereby greatly simplifying the manufacture and reducing the expense. plaited, woven, or twisted wicks the strands do not run parallel with the length of the wick, but are at an angle thereto, and even in some cases lie diametrically across the same, thereby increasing the distance for the oil to travel, provided it passes through the length of the strands, or causing the same to pass across the strands diametrically and jump from one strand to the next, thus interfering with the free conveyance of the oil. The natural course, obviously, for the oil to take is through the length of the strand,as in this direction there is more direct and perfect contact of the particles of the wick and consequently less resistance; but no matter how tightly the wick is plaited, woven, or twisted the spaces or interstices between the adjoining strands are considerable, and the oil passes from one to Furthermore, in

the other slowly an d with difficulty. Furthermore, if the wick is plaited, woven, or twisted tightly, so asto reduce to a minimum the spaces or interstices between adjoining strands, the strands themselves are correspondingly compressed, thereby still further interfering with the passage of the oil either longitudinally or diametrically. Therefore to overcome these difficulties is an other object of this invention. Furthermore, it is usual to manufacture and sell wicks in long pieces sufficient to form a number of wicks, thereby leaving it for the consumer to cut them into suitable lengths to be used in the lamps; but in my improved wick I- aim to overcome this inconvenience and also provide the wick with means where by it may be easily and quickly introduced into the lamp. I am aware that all wicks are not manufactured in lengths, as described; but those which are not are not provided with means to introduce them into the lamp.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a wick embodying my improvements; and represents the lower ends of afew of the strands separated from the body of the wick to show that they are entirely independent.

The wick, which is preferably of cotton, is composed of a bunch of independent or separate strands, which hang loosely from their upper to their lower ends and are neither plaited, woven, nor twisted together. Each strand is virtually a wick, and they act independently in conveying the oil to the point of combustion. Thus there is a series of continuous conductors for the oil, and the latter does not pass from one strand to the next. Further, the strands are not twisted and are not compressed, and therefore the capillary attraction is not interfered with and the oil is allowed to ascend freely and rapidly, thereby furnishing sufficient oil to support a good con1- bustion and provide a satisfactory light. The upper ends of the strands are tied together by a light cord, which is formed at its center into a slip noose and is allowed to hang loosely at its ends. In introducing this wick into the wick tube the loose ends of the cord are placed in the lamp, and then by a strong puff of breath they are blown out through the tube,

where they may be grasped to draw the wick into place, after which the cord is removed, thereby freeing the upper ends of the strands.

Thus when the wick is in the lamp ready for use the strands are not in any way connected or joined together, but act independently in conveying the oil to be consumed.

From the above description it will be seen that the improved wick is spongy or elastic in its character, and when inserted in the wicktube of a lamp fills the same snugly without necessarily being tight or compressing the strands, and therefore, while the passage of the oil is not interfered with, all the space within the wick-tube is occupied. If through the extreme smallness of the wick-tube it is found that the wick is too tight, one, two, or more of the strands maybe readily drawn out of the tube after the cord is removed without disturbing the other strands. Thus my wick may be fitted accurately to the wick-tube by the consumer with little or no trouble, as itis a simple matter to grasp the lower ends of two or more of the strands and draw them out of the tube.

p The Wick will rarely, if ever, be found too loose for the wick-tube, as its spongy or elastic character causes it to spread and occupy all the available space.

It will be understood that this wick is designed especially for miners lamps which use lard-oil. I am aware that the ordinary plaited, woven, or twisted wicks are suit-able for lamps using mineral and vegetable oils and convey the same satisfactorily; but lard and other animal oils are stiff or only semi-fluid, except when heated to a certain temperature, and therefore the ordinary wick I have found by experience to be inadequate and unsuitable for their conveyance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

Asan improved article of manufacture, a wick composed of separate strands and being of a length suitable for immediate use, the said strands being connected together at one end by a removable cord, as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERIC l\t[. ANTON.

Witnesses:

A. L. VAN VOORHIS, I. S. KEENEY. 

